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Background and Objectives We developed a hollow-fibre column system specifically adapted to prepare washed platelet concentrates ( WPCs). This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the hollow-fibre column system for preparing WPCs. Materials and Methods First, the percentages of platelet ( PLT) recovery and remaining plasma proteins were calculated by determining the PLT count, volume and plasma protein levels in both the prewash and postwash. Secondly, washed PLTs and unwashed control PLTs were stored for 5 days, and the changes during this 5-day storage of in vitro PLT characteristics were determined. Results The hollow-fibre column system effectively removed >98% of plasma in platelet concentrates ( PCs), and the PLT recovery was 97% on an average. The CD62P-expression level on washed PLTs immediately after washing was approximately twofold higher than that on prewashed PLTs as well as on PLTs washed via manual methods or cell washing devices. Until day 5 during storage, PLT aggregability, hypotonic shock response and swirling scores of washed PLTs were not significantly different from those of the control PCs. Conclusion Our novel hollow-fibre column system proved valuable in preparing washed PLTs with <2% of residual plasma proteins and high recovery of PLTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose The stroke severity on admission and clinical outcomes were compared between ischaemic stroke patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation ( NVAF) of the persistent (Pe AF) and paroxysmal ( PAF) types. Methods The study comprised 9293 patients with cardioembolic stroke and NVAF who were registered in the Japanese stroke databank: 6522 had Pe AF (70.2%) and 2771 had PAF (29.8%). Stroke severity on admission and the clinical outcomes on discharge were retrospectively compared between these patient groups. Results The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission (median, interquartile range) was 10 (3-20) for Pe AF patients and 7 (2-17) for PAF patients, indicating that stroke severity on admission was significantly worse in Pe AF patients than PAF patients ( P < 0.001). Good outcomes (modified Rankin scale score ≤2) were achieved by 45% Pe AF patients and 53% PAF patients. Thus, Pe AF patients had significantly poorer clinical outcomes than PAF patients ( P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher amongst Pe AF patients (11%) than PAF patients (8%) ( P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of factors contributing to clinical outcomes showed that Pe AF was a contributing factor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.261; 95% confidence interval 1.011-1.652; P = 0.045). Conclusions Amongst cardioembolic stroke patients with NVAF, those with Pe AF have significantly higher stroke severity on admission than those with PAF, and Pe AF is a factor contributing to in-hospital mortality. Thus, our study suggests that the type of atrial fibrillation affects stroke severity and clinical outcomes following cerebral infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the establishment of cell panel for detecting antibodies against human platelet antigen (HPA) 2b located on Glycoprotein Ib (CD42). Topics include immune thrombocytopenia caused due to alloantibodies against HPA such as fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia; detecting platelet antibodies using human leukocyte antigen; and association of functional antibodies with thrombosis or haemostatic defect.

As shown here, decoy cells in urine are not specific for BK polyoma virus and can be found in other urinary viral infections. Immunostaining, electron microscopy and molecular studies are advised when decoy cells are seen, to clarify the infective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dermatophagoides farinae is a source of airborne house dust mite ( HDM) allergens. We elucidated IgE-reactive allergens from D. farinae by two-dimensional immunoblotting-based allergenome analysis, and identified one new allergen, named Der f 35, that possesses IgE-binding capacity comparable to that of Der f 2. The aim of this study was to clarify the allergenic capacity of new HDM allergen Der f 35. Methods We cloned der f 35 from D. farinae mRNA and produced recombinant Der f 35 in Escherichia coli. The IgE-binding capacity of Der f 35 and its cross-reactivity with group 2 allergens from D. farinae and Psoroptes ovis were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ELISA inhibition assays, respectively. Results The deduced amino acid sequence for der f 35, which possesses the MD-2-related lipid-recognition domain, showed higher identity with group 2 allergens from P. ovis (61.5%) and Blomia tropicalis (50.7%) than with Der f 2 (40.8%). Der f 35 showed IgE-binding frequencies of 77.5% (31/40) for the native form upon allergenome analysis and 51.4% (18/35) for recombinant structure by ELISA. Der f 35 showed cross-reactivity with Der f 2 and Pso o 2 in reaction with HDM-allergic patients' IgE by ELISA inhibition assay. Conclusion Der f 35 is a candidate major allergen from D. farinae, which is more similar to group 2 allergens from sheep scab mite and storage mites. Der f 35 could be responsible for the cross-reactivity among group 2 mite allergens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2-binding protein ( WFA+-M2 BP) is a new liver fibrosis glycobiomarker with unique fibrosis-related glyco-alteration. WFA+-M2 BP is also a useful surrogate marker for the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and for the liver functional reserve. Aim To evaluate the diagnostic ability of WFA+-M2 BP for liver fibrosis in the clinical setting and the clinical utility of WFA+-M2 BP for predicting the efficacy of direct-acting anti-viral ( DAA) treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods The study included 159 genotype 1 hepatitis C patients who received DAA-based treatment (telaprevir or simeprevir) combined with pegylated-interferon alpha plus ribavirin (108 telaprevir- and 51 simeprevir-based triple treatment). The relation between baseline serum WFA+-M2 BP and treatment efficacy was evaluated. Results The serum WFA+-M2 BP level significantly increased with the progress of liver fibrosis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified 2.17 as the cut-off index ( COI) for WFA+-M2 BP for diagnosing advanced fibrosis. The sustained virological response ( SVR) rate was significantly, negatively correlated with the serum WFA+-M2 BP level. Multiple logistic regression analysis found a low serum WFA+-M2 BP level (<2.17 COI) to be independently associated with SVR (odds ratio, 4.35, P = 0.027). Even for prior nonresponders and patients with the interleukin-28B minor allele or histological advanced fibrosis, treatment outcome was favourable for patients with a low serum WFA+-M2 BP level. Conclusion Serum WFA+-M2 BP is a non-invasive liver fibrosis marker useful for predicting the efficacy of DAA-based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of increasing litter size in Western pig breeds, additional teats are desirable to increase the capacity for nursing offspring. We applied genome-wide SNP markers to detect QTL regions that affect teat number in a Duroc population. We phenotyped 1024 animals for total teat number. A total of 36 588 SNPs on autosomes were used in the analysis. The estimated heritability for teat number was 0.34 ± 0.05 on the basis of a genomic relationship matrix constructed from all SNP markers. Using a BayesC method, we identified a total of 18 QTL regions that affected teat number in Duroc pigs; 9 of the 18 regions were newly detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Plumbagin ( PL), a naturally occurring quinoid, exerts antitumoral effects in diverse types of cancer cells. However, the effect of PL on tumor cell proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC) remains poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of PL, in human OSCC cells. Methods The effect of PL on the cell growth and apoptosis of OSCC cell lines was evaluated using MTT and Annexin V assays, respectively. The effect of PL on mitochondrial membrane potential loss and reactive oxygen species ( ROS) generation was evaluated using flow cytometry analysis. Results MTT assay showed that PL dose-dependently suppressed OSCC cell growth, with IC50 values ranging from 3.87 to 14.6 μM. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that PL treatment resulted in a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Notably, ROS generation was significantly elevated after PL treatment. Furthermore, a ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine ( NAC), clearly suppressed the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, increase of caspase-3/7 activity, and apoptosis after PL treatment. Conclusion This study provides the considerable evidence of the tumor-suppressive effect of PL, thereby highlighting its therapeutic potential for OSCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]